Gaseous tube sign



Patented Jan. 23, 1940 I GASEOUS PATENT OFFICE TUBE SIGN Florance SamuelGanoung, l can,.l\l. Y.

Application June24, 1938, Serial No. 215,593

7 Claims.

My invention relates ingeneral to electrically illuminated signs,- andmore particularly to signs illuminated by gaseous tubes. i I

I Heretofore a great deal of difficulty has been encountered in themaintenance of gaseous tube signs against electrical breakdowns betweenthe electrodes of the gaseous tubes and ground. Difficulty has also beenencountered in the mainte- I nancevof the electric cables and otherelectrical 1 connections. The principal source or cause. of thedifficulties residesv in the fact that the gaseous tubesandtheelectrodes for the gaseous tubes are exposed to dirt, insects, rain,sleet, and ice. The collectionoi this foreign matt'ertends to cause anelectrical breakdown which necessitates the servicing of the sign to putit in proper working condition. r l An object of my invention is theprovision of a gaseous tube sign which protects the electricallyenergized parts from dirt, insects, rain, sleet'and ice.

Another object of my invention is to mount the gaseous tube means in aclosedhousing to protect it'from foreign matter and against breakage.

Another objectof my invention is the provision of asign illuminated bygaseous tubes which is adaptable to give any desirable display patternincluding any letter, symbol, character, ornament or design, or anycombination of 1 such arrange-. ment, which cannot be directly producedby the configuration of the gaseous tubes themselves.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a design illuminatedby gaseous tubes which gives clear cut and defined display patterns;including any letter, symbol, character, orna; ment or design, or anycombination of such arrangement. a

Another object of my invention isthe provision of utilizing a bank ofgaseous tubemeans and of 4o diffusing the light emanatingfrom.thegaseoustube means to give asubstantially solid glowing back ground toilluminate adisplay pattern, in-

cluding any letter, symbol, character, ornament or design, of anycombination of such arrangement, and to give a clear cut illuminateddisplay pattern which is visible in the day light as well as at night. I

Another object of my invention isthe provision of an illuminated fieldopening in the design housing which permits a change of displaypatterns, including any letter, symbol, character, ornament or device,or-any combination of such arrangement, without installing a new sign.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a peripheral frame.which :.engages; the illu;

minated field opening in the sign housing and which permits the exchangeof display-patterns by changing one patternfor another in the peripheralframe.

Another objecto'fmy invention is the provision of utilizing features ofmy invention with raised characters or letters so as to give anilluminated border aroundthe raised letters or characters. Anotherobject of my invention is the provision of gaseous tube means which maybe constructed in sections and which may be arranged to utilize thedifferent kinds of gases in thetubes of each section to give differentemanations of colors for illuminating the display pattern in theilluminatedfield opening of the sign.

, Another object of my invention is the provision of'interrupting thelight illuminating the display pattern to give the effect of a movabledisplay pattern. 7

Another object of my invention is the provision of a bank of gaseoustube means which may be readily inserted in orwithdrawn from thehousingof the sign.

Another object of my invention is the provision of mounting a diffusingmaterial at a distance from the bank of gaseous tube means to produce anilluminated field of a substantially solidglowing back ground.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a sign which maybeeasily washed as a window and which gives beautiful designs of any colorcombination or of changeable gaseous'tube colors and which gives adisplay pattern legible at acute angles of vision.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a sign which providesa double faced display pattern with the same gaseous tubing which isordinarily used for a single faced sign.

Anotherobject of my invention is the provision of asign which may bereadily manufactured and which may be maintained at a minimum ofexpense. A fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referringto the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by likereference characters, and in which:

'Figure 1 illustrates a gaseous tube sign embodying the features of myinvention, as shown in front elevation;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the sign shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an end view of the sign shown in Figure 1;

1 Figure 4 shows an end view of the sign shown in Figure 1, with an endportion removed illustrating the guide rails which receive the bank ofgaseous tubes, but which tubes are not shown in place;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the sign taken along the line5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrates the bank of gaseous tubes slidablymounted in the guide rails;

Figure 6 illustrates a bank of gaseous tube means which may bereplaceably mounted in the housing of my sign; l Tl Figure '7 shows a'fragmentary and cross-sectional view of a portion of display patternwhich may be mounted in the illuminated field opening of my sign;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 'lshowin the employment of myinvention in connection with raised letters; Y r l 1 Figure 9 shows aview similar to Figure '7 but modified by the employment of a thin"opaque means upon which the display cpa'ttern is provided; a g Figure10'is a largefront elevational viewof one of the sockets which areelectrically connected to the gaseous tube means; 7

Figure 11 shows an electrical plug which may be arranged to detachablyfitin the socket shown in Figure 10 for making electrical connectionbetween the transformer and the gaseous tube means; l r

Figure 12 shows an insulated support upon which the gaseous tubes may bemounted to the frame as shown in Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a fragmentaryand cross-sectional view through the displaypattern; having an arrangement as shown in Figure 9; a Figure 14 is-afragmentary and cross-sectional view through the display'pattern havingan arrangement as shown in Figure 8.

With reference to Figures '1 to 6-,'inclusive, my invention comprisesgenerally an electrically illuminated sign having a housing 20with abaseportion 2| and a sign portion 22, and a bank of gaseous tube means 24arranged -to illuminate the display pattern illustrated by the referencecharacter 30: The sign portion '22 is-arranged-to have an illuminatedfield opening'23 'into which the display pattern 3!] is arranged tobeinterchangeably mounted. A' display pattern isprovided on both sides ofthe sign portion 22; making a double faced display pattern with the samegaseous tube means. r P The bank of gaseous tube means 24 is arranged tobe mounted in a frame 25 as shown particularly in Figure 6. Asillustrated, the bank' of gaseous tube means comprises two tube sections26 and 33; The gaseous tube section 26 is ar rangedto be energized from,andfelectrically connected to, the sockets21 and 28y which are in turnelectrically .connectedto the. transformer 29 by cables as illustratedby the dash lines, see Figuregl. 'Ihep-gaseousntube section 33..isarranged; to be energized from, and electrically connected to,.thesockets 34 and 35,which are in turn electrically connectedto'thetransformer 36 bycables as illustrated by .the dash lines.- 'Anenlarge-d view of a socket like that identified as 21, 28, 34 and 35' isshown in Figure 10-and is arranged to slidably receive a detachable plug49 as shown in Figure '11 to which a cable'that leads to a transformermay be connected. The use of a detachable plug facilitatesthe readyexchange of a bank of gaseous tube means. In'order' 'not to confuse; thedrawings-the bank' of gaseous tube means is not illustrated in theelevational view in Figure 1.

To compare the clear cut effect of the display pattern including anyletter, symbol, character, ornament or design, or any combination ofsuch devices to that afforded by a gaseous tube itself, I arrange toremovably mount a gaseous tube 31 externally of and on top of the signportion 2!. The ends of the gaseous tube 31 are arranged to be,removably mounted in the electrodes 38 andg39 whichere' electricallyconnected to the transformer 40 by cables illustrated by the dash lines.The gaseous tube 31 is utilized only to compare the clean outeffectiveness of the display pattern to that of a gaseous tube itself,such as for a sales demonstration. In actual service the gaseous tube'31 need not be employed. The primary winding of the transformers 29, 36and 40 are arranged to be electrically energized from the supplyconductors 4| as illustrated by the dash-lines in-Figure li 1 i v i Thehousing of the design may be constructed of any suitable material andanyparticular configuration to meet the needs. of thecustomer. Tofacilitate thev construction of the. sign housing andto-give access tothe enclosed part and to; afford the interchangeability of the sectionof gaseous tubes, the end portions 42 and 43 are arranged to be removably mounted thereon by meansof screws. and 45, respectively. The insideofthe sign portion 22 of the housing 20 is arranged to have. an upperslide rail and a lower slide rail- 5| ,to slidably receive the. frame 25upon which the sectionof gaseous tube means are mounted, Therefore,inassembling or disassembling. the'gas'eous tube means, it is onlynecessary to remove the pin 52 in the end of the lower slide rail 5|and-slide the frame out of the opened,end of the sign portion 22. Thecon-. struction makes my sign very flexible and adapt able to changeabledesires of the customer for. the reason that .the bank .of gaseous tubemeans maynbe arranged in any number of sections whichemanatedifferentcolors therefrom to pro-, duce arvarietyof colors upon thedisplay pattern. 3 The. gaseous tube means niay be mounted upon theframe25 vin any suitable manner and as illus-, trated vI employ twospaced upright. framemembers 53 which carry a plurality of receptacles56 holding-insulated supportsand to the latter of whichth'e gaseous.tubes may be attached by means of awire 54 looped around the tube andhooked. under. .thedownwardlyinclined projecting ears upon the outer-endof the insulated support, as shown in an enlarged'view in Figure-12;Only one of such insulator supportmountings is shownin Figure 6.

Mountedwithin-the illuminated opening 23 of the sign portion 22 is aperipheralframe59, see Figure. 5. When the peripheral frame 59- ismounted in the illuminated opening 23, its edges engage theedge portions60 of the opening 23. As illustrated, in..Figures 1, 5 13- and 14,-theperipheral frame Bil-may be held in engagement with the edge portion 60by means of screws 6|. Onthe rearward side of the peripheral frame 59there is provided an engaging flange 62 -which extendsaround the twovertical sides andthe bottom of "the peripheral frame. The engagingflange 62 "does not extend along'the 'top edge of the peripheral'frame59 so that the display pattern maybe inserted in the engaging flange 62from thetop."

"As illustrated in Figure 7 which showsan 'enlarged cross-sectional 1view of the display pattern permits the display pattern to be slidablymoved upwardly from the engaging flange 62.

the new display pattern is inserted, the periph- --eral frame 59 isagain mounted in the opening-23 by meansof the screws Bl.

in Figure 5, I utilize adiffusing material -63 and an opaque means whichmay be readily inserted in the engaging flange 62 of the peripheralframe 59. The diffusing material 63 maybe constructed of diffusingglasswhich may be purchased readily upon themarket or of any other suitablematerial to produce an illuminated field of a substantially solidglowing background. "The bank of gaseous tube means is located at-adistance from the diffusing material 63 so that the longitudinal ribefiectof-the light emanating from the bank of gaseous tube meansis-substantially dispersed to lose 'the linear identity. Inan"embodiment of my invention which I have constructed, I "find that thedistance between "the bank of gaseous tube meansand each'ofthediffusingmaterials 63 on opposite sides of-the bank of gaseous tubemeans may be in the neighbor- "hood of 2 to 3 inches. The opaque means64 may compriseglass or anyother material arranged to haveadisplaypattern provided thereon. The display pattern maybe produced bypainting or otherwise covering certain" portions of the glass andproducing an opaque surface through which the light cannot emanate.

In Figure 7, the painted or otherwise covered portion is indicated bythe reference character 66 and the display pattern which comprisesletters is indicated by the reference 'character 65.

The light which emanates thr'oughthe display pattern is clear cut andproduces illuminated characters or letters which may be easily read inthe day time as well-as at night and at an acute angle of vision.

In Figure 8, I show amodified arrangement of the display'pattern shownin Figure 7, in that the opaque means 14 may be provided with raisedletters or indicia, as indicated by the reference character 15 aroundwhich illuminated portions 16 may border. 'The' opaque portions of theopaque means 14 is illustrated by the reference character 7'! and may beprovided thereon by any suitable manner such for example as by paint orother suitable material. The combined effect of the raised letters: 15together with the illuminated border 15 gives a very pleasing effeet tothe eye and enables greater flexibility in sign design to meet thedemands of the purchasing public.

In Figure 9, I show another arrangement for producing a pleasing displaypattern and in this arrangement the display pattern is provided uponnon-inflammable, thin material 61 mounted between the diffusing material63 and a clear transparent piece 68 which may be in the form of glass orany other suitable material. The opaque portions of the non-inflammablethin material 61 is indicated by the reference character l0 and thedisplay pattern which is in the form of letters is indicated by thereference character 59, As in Figure 9, the pattern may be in the formof several single individual letter sections which may be arranged edgeto edge between the diffusing material 36and the outer transparent piece68, to make any combination of words or other indicia.

The different arrangements of the display patterns as shown in Figures7, 8 and 9 may be readily exchanged for one another by merelywithdrawing one display pattern from the engaging flange 62 andinserting a new display. In making the change, it is only necessary tounscrew the screws GI and remove the peripheral frame 59 until the upperedge thereof is free from the edge portion 60 of the opening 23. ThisAfter frame'59 is'mounted in the opening 23 the edge portion 60 of theopening 23 constitutes a stop to keep' the' display pattern in position.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only-by way of example and that numerous -I claim as my invention:15A gaseous tube sign construction compris- --ing. incombination, ahousing having an illumi- When the peripheral nated field opening, adiffusing material p'osi- 'tioned in the said-opening to form a closedhousing a bank ofgaseous tube means, frame means for mounting the bankof gaseous tube means in'the housing to protect same from dirt, in-

sectsrain, sleet, ice and against breakage, means for slidably mountingthe frame means in the housing, said bank of gaseous tube means beingpositioned at a distance from the diffusing ma- --terial to produce anilluminated field of a substantially solid glowing back ground, opaque*rneans having transparent character portions,

and means for mounting the opaque means externally' of the diffusingmaterial to produce "clean cut illuminated character through thetransparent character portions.

2. A gaseous tube sign construction comprisperipheral frame to formaclosed housing; a bank of gaseous tube means, means for mounting thebank of gaseous tube means in the housing to protect same from dirt,insects, rain, sleet, ice and against breakage, said bank of gaseoustube means being positioned at a distance from the diffusing material toproduce an illuminated field of a substantially solid glowing background, opaque means having transparent character portions, and meansfor mounting the opaque means externally of the diffusing material inthe peripheral frame to produce clean cut illuminated characters throughthe transparent character portions.

3. A gaseous tube sign construction comprising, in combination. ahousing-having an illuminated field opening, a peripheral frame forengaging the peripheral edge portion of the said opening, saidperipheral frame having engaging means, a diffusing material positionedin the engaging means to form a closed housing, a bank of gaseous tubemeans, means for mounting the bank of gaseous tube means in the housingto protect same from dirt, insects, rain, sleet, ice and againstbreak-age, said bank of gaseous tube means being positioned at adistance from the diffusing material to produce an illuminated field ofa substantially solid glowing back ground, opaque means havingtransparent character portions. and means for mounting the opaque meansexternally of the diffusing material in the engaging means to produceclean cut illuminated characters through the transparent characterportions.

,4. A gaseous tube sign construction comprising, in combinatiom a'housing having illuminated field opening, a peripheral frameforengaging the peripheral edge portion of the said opening, saidperipheral frame having engaging means, a diffusing material positionedin the engaging means to form a closed housing, a bank of gaseous tubemeans, means for mounting the bank of gaseous tube means in the housingto protect same from dirt, insects, rain, sleet, ice and againstbreakage, said bank of gaseous tube means being positioned at a distancefrom the diffusing material to produce an illuminated field of asubstantially solid glowing" back ground, opaque means havingtransparentch'aracter portions, and means for mounting the opaque meansexternally of the difiusing material in the engaging means to produceclean cutilluminated characters through the transparent characterportions, said diffusing material and opaque means slidably fitting inthe engaging means, said edge portion of said opening constituting meansto hold said diffusing material and said opaque means from sliding outwhen said peripheral .frame engages the said peripheral edge portion.

5. A gaseous tube sign construction comprising, in combination, ahousing having an illuminated field opening, a diffusing materialpositioned in the said opening to form a closed housing, a bank ofgaseous tube means, means for mounting the bank of gaseous tube means inthe housing to protect same from dirt, insects, rain, sleet, ice andagainst breakage, said bank of gaseous tube means being positioned at adis- I tance from the difiusing material to produce an illuminated fieldof a substantially solid glowing back ground, opaque means havingtransparent character portions; means for mounting the opaque meansexternally of the diffusing material to produce clean cut illuminatedcharacters through the transparent character portions, and raisedcharacter means mounted on the opaque bank of gaseous tube means in thehousing to pro- 1 stantially solid glowing back ground, opaque meanshaving transparent character portions,

means with ,the transparent character portions forming a bordertherearound.

-6. A gaseous tube sign construction comprising, in combination, ahousing having an illuminated field opening, a diffusing material posi-5 ,tioned in the saidopening to form a closed housing, abank of gaseoustube means, meansfor mounting the bank of gaseous tube means in thehousing to protect same from dirt, insects, rain,

sleet, ice and against breakage, said bank of gase- ,1 0

ous tube means being positioned at a distance from the diffusingmaterial to produce an illuminated field of a substantially solidglowing back ground, opaque means having transparent character portions,and means for mounting the, a

opaque'means externally of the diffusing material to produce clean cutilluminated characters through the transparent character portions, and agaseous tube section removably mounted externally of the housing toafford a comparative test go peripheral frame to form a closed housing,a bank f gaseous tube means, means for mounting the tect same from dirt,insects, rain, sleet, ice and against breakage, said bank of gaseoustube means being positioned at a distance from the diffusing material toproduce an illuminated field of a suband means for mounting the opaquemeans in juxtaposition with the diffusing material in'the peripheralframe to produce clean cut illuminated characters through thetransparent portions.

- Y F. SAMUEL GANOUNG.

